Grads teach for America

While some Pitt seniors move on to graduate school or begin their careers, others find… While some Pitt seniors move on to graduate school or begin their careers, others find themselves right back where they started — in the classroom.

But this time, they have students of their own.

For the 2006 school year, Teach For America — a program dedicated to enlisting prominent college graduates to battle and eliminate educational inequality — selected 30 Pitt students, 23 of whom confirmed their admission, according to TFA recruitment associate Eric Cipra.

The Pitt applicants were among only 17 percent of total students who gained admission.

However, Pitt hasn’t always been this successful with the program.

TFA began in 1990 and until last year only 63 Pitt graduates participated in the program.

Pennsylvania recruitment director Abby Smith said the great increase in acceptance is because Pitt’s students are among the most outstanding in the country.

“Pitt has a huge number of college graduates who fit the criteria of being the top in the nation,” she said, adding that because these students were leaders at Pitt, they will be leaders in the classroom and ultimately leaders in the future.

Campus campaign manager and Pitt junior Deidra Dunhoff agrees.

“University of Pittsburgh students are an extremely talented group. As our university climbs the college ranking charts, so do our graduates’ success rates,” she said in an e-mail.

She added that students’ avid participation in both leadership positions and academics at Pitt were two of the most important criteria. TFA considered when seeking out students for its program, hence the increase in Pitt acceptance.

Catherine Frizell — Pitt graduate and 2006 TFA participant — said she was initially skeptical about joining the program and doubted her own teaching abilities.

But after she heard the stories from other members about their experiences with TFA, she was sold on its mission and making an impact.

“I’m honored to be part of a program that attracts such a talented and committed pool of people,” Frizell said in an e-mail. “I am constantly impressed by other members. I think the upsurge in acceptances at Pitt speaks to the quality of Pitt’s student body as well as TFA’s recruitment efforts.”

But the growth of TFA is not just because of the high quality of Pitt students. It is also about making a difference and changing lives.

Lauren Cavallaro, another Pitt graduate and 2006 TFA member, quoted Mahatma Gandhi who once said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

“I truly believe in this statement and I wanted to reach out and inspire the youth of America to not only succeed, but to make the world a better place,” Cavallaro said in an e-mail.

She said that she was initially attracted to the program because of the incredible difference it made in the lives of children from underprivileged communities.

“I believe that all people have good and kindness in them and that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to,” Cavallaro said. “I wanted to join a movement where I could help children realize and achieve their full potential.”

Cipra agrees that the increase in student interest in the program is not because of a lack of teaching positions, but because of students’ desires to perform public service.

He added that passion is what drives students to success, and if these applicants take their passion for math, science or whatever field they are in and apply it to teaching, the program will continue to grow.

“Our generation is also more interested in making an impact and making a difference rather than going off and making lots of money,” Cipra said. “I think it’s always helpful, especially for groups like [Teach For America]. We love having top students come in and do things like that.”

Despite Pitt students’ rising interest in TFA, interest is still low at some other schools. Carnegie Mellon University had just two students admitted to the program for 2006.

Smith says this small number is because of the lack of program promotion, something she has dealt with at schools such as Pitt, Penn State and Muhlenberg College.

“Students have always wanted an option to channel their idealism into something really purposeful and meaningful, and it’s a matter of letting them know that option exists,” Smith said. “Pitt students are really recognizing it.”

She said the Pennsylvania recruitment team hopes to extend this knowledge to CMU students, which will consequently result in more student participation.

Dunhoff agrees that simply getting the word out is what makes students want to join organizations, especially if they are for rewarding and beneficial causes.

“Teach For America has become more popular at the University of Pittsburgh because of a growth in awareness about the organization on our campus,” she said in an e-mail. “Once college students, especially Pittsburgh students, find out about Teach For America, many feel compelled to join the cause.”